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For Whom the Bell Tolls: Road Safety Effects of Tolls on Uncongested SCUT Highways in Portugal

Alfredo Pereira, Rui Pereira and João Pereira Dos Santos ()

No 74, GEE Papers from Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia

Abstract: We present a difference-in-differences analysis of the road safety effects of introducing tolls on SCUT highways in Portugal, a policy motivated purely by financial considerations, as congestion was never an issue. Using negative binomial count models and a comprehensive dataset on all mainland municipalities covering 2008 to 2014, we find that introducing tolls led to an increase in the total numbers of accidents and of road injuries in municipalities where SCUT highways are located. Additionally, we register a change in the composition thereof, with fewer occurrences on highways (including on SCUT highways) and an increase on national and other roads. Finally, we find that most effects pertain to light injuries. No statistically significant effects were identified for fatal or serious injuries. Furthermore, as a result of introducing tolls on SCUT highways, we estimate that around 20% of the toll revenue collected is lost on the costs linked to road accidents. This questions the rationale of introducing such tolls, even on a revenue-raising standpoint.

Keywords: Road safety; Accident; Injury; Toll; Difference-in-differences; SCUT; Portugal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: R10 R41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 19 pages
Date: 2017-07, Revised 2017-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-hea, nep-tre and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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https://www.gee.gov.pt/RePEc/WorkingPapers/GEE_PAPERS_74.pdf First version, 2017 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mde:wpaper:0074

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